John dillingham



@uitrit tetes atwt @fitte JOHN DILLINGHAM, OF TURNER, MAINE.'

Letters Patent No. 81,988, elated September 8, 1868.

IMPRVEMENT IN DOOR AND SAFE-LOCKS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOHN DILLINGHAM, of Turner, in the county ot' Androscoggin, in the State ot' Maine, have invented a new and improved Lock; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view.

Figure 2 is a view of the key or unlocking-instrument.

Figure 3 is a view of the main bolt with its appendages.

Figure 4 is a view of the sliding plates which close the several key-holes or openings.

Figure 5 is a View of the plunger.

Figure 6 is a viewof the connection between the plunger and the locking-instrument or key.

Figure 'l is a view of the key-holes or openings, with an vornamental bit of brass fixed over the` several key-holes.

Figure 8 is a view of two pairs of small bolts, situated in the upper division of said lock.

Figure 9 is a view ot' a third pair of bolts, also in the upper division, which makes fast and immovable the bolts which close the key-holes.4

Figure' 10 is a view of the small or day-key.

Figure 1l is a View of the follower.

Figure 12 is a view of the pawls, with their brass caps lapping over and staying the levers in their places, and also apeeuliar-'orrned spring, which laps over, by crossing both pawls and levers.

The object of my invention consists in forming a lock, which, when once closed, will be able to retain with safety whatsoever is therein deposited.

One valuable, important, and novel feature of this new-formed key is, the use of both its ends to operate in the several divisions of this lock; and without a knowledge of the co-operaticn of these opposite ends, one might find himself bathed to operate, even with the use of' this, its proper key, which is alone able to unloosc the fastenings and move 'back these bolts. Such is the object and design of this invention.

. To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construc- :tion and operation in a systematical order, and in the same order in which a mechanic would commence this work ol' making and using said invention. i

I constructmy keynabout three inches in length and about one-eighth of an inch in thickness. Said principal key has a flange, a, see drawing, plate 1, tig. 2,) or a. projecting edge, ot' some half inch in width, at or. near one end, and also a second flange, marked b, at or near the other end. Athird liange, marked e, is situated about midway betiveen the other two, but on the opposite side. Said langes are wrought into different forms, so as to accommodate themselves to the'di'erent wards situated in the several divisions of said lock. Said forms are all to be varied, shifted, and changed, so that Vno one of these keys will ever be able to operate in any two of ythese locks.

I also make an opening in the side of this lock, near the bottom, and about midway in its length, (see plate 12, iig. 7, letter (1,) and in this opening I insert a metallic lining, which exactly conforms to the dange of the .alreadyfdescrihed key which is to pass through it.

When the tlange a passes into the-lock, a half turnputs it into a position to pass through another opening, formed likethe Erst, into a second division of the lock, and at the sarne time the rst -lange, a, is passing the second opening, the second flange, c, is passing the first opening, 0l. l

When in this position, the two flanges operate on a vibrating plate,in both divisions ofthe lock, (see tig. 3, etters e e-,) giving said plate an oscillating motionfby means of the flanges alternately'pressing against the two uprights standing at the opposite corners, in the inner edge of said plate, which plate is also hinged at its centre. 'And to this vibrating plate are attached two hands, or detents, clicks, or pawls, (see iig. 3, letters ff.) Said pawls are 'hinged at their inner ends to the outer corners of said plate, which vibrate back and forward, and catch into angular teeth, which are provided there to receive the said pawls, and by this means the main bolt is gradually thrown forward. And, in connection with this, there are two levers, y g, working within the two pawls. Said levers-are hinged at their inner ends, and the other ends bear against the points of "said pawls. 'In this way, when the plunger comes in between the heads of said levers, they are spread out Ward, the two springs, h h, on the back side of these said pawls yielding to the power of the plunger, carrying with them the two pawls, throwing out of gear the' angular teeth, liberating the main bolt at this end, and 'making ready for a movement in the opposite direction. v

Said pawls are capped with a plate of brass, or its equivalent, (see plate 2, fig. 12, letters i z',) having a. projection at'the outer end suicient to lap over and stay the levers in their places, (see jj.) And, in addition to this, there is a peculiar-formed spring, letter lc, which laps over, by crossing both the pawls and both of the levers, for the purpose of retaining them in their proper places. i

yThe description here given, on this end of the main bolt, is also a description of the form and construction of the other end of this same bolt.

I also make a second opening in the side o'f said lock, (see plate 2, iig. 7,-letter L,) and directly over the first opening, and at such a distance as the peculiar construction may require. This second opening is in construction and peculiarity precisely like the first, and the description already given nf the rst opening is a. full description of the second. v

This instrument or key, which has already been described, passes into said lock through this second opening or key-hole, and there operates en what has been denominated a plunger, (see iig. 5, letters m Said plunger works back and forward, as the case requires. When it is thrown one way, it throws the pawls out of gear'at one end of said main bolt, and throws the pawls into gear at the opposite end of. this same bolt, and all with the same motion. Y

Fig. 6, letter n, forms the connection between the plunger and the key. Said key operates on the angular teeth on the upper side, and the teeth on the under side operate with the corresponding teeth on the side of the curved lever of said plunger. I

And again, I make a third opening in the side of the lock, (iig. 7, letter 0,) near the top, at either the right or left-hand corner, entirely depending whether the lock is to be a right or a left-hand lock; this said opening to be lormed and constructed the same as those which are already described. The key, as described above, will be used 'in this ease by changing ends; it enters this third opening, and turns a pair of bolts, (seeg. 4, letter p.) This movement slides a plate (see g. 4r,4 letter q) over every opening, and e'ectnally closes every other opening or key-hole. in said lock, When the keyholes marked r r r in sliding plates come over and match the local key-holes in the side of the lock, then there is entrance, but when thekey-holes. in the sliding plates pass by th local key-holes in the side of the lock, there is no admittance. Y

And again, this same key continues, and enters a second department, and there operates o'nanother pair ofl bolts, (lig. 9, letter 8,) and by .this means the last-mentioned pair of bolts are made fast and immovable. And in connectin with this second department there is provided'a follower, (see g. 11, letter t,) which is carried back while the said key is operating in this second division, and, when withdrawn, said follower pursues and elfectually closes the entrance into this last-mentioned division.

And also, near thetop and at the opposite corner from the opening last described, I make a fourth opening,in the side of thisl same lock, (seefig. 7, letter u.) This fourth opening is constructed the same as those above described, and in this connection I use the same key, which has been already fullydescribed, and is the principal and most important instrument, even for thisl fourth division of the lock. This keye'riters the lock through theopening at letter u, and can `operate and throw back and forward apair of bolts, (fig 8, letter n.) This division of said lock is intended for day-use, without bringing into requisition thekother divisions... This will be found very convenient in dispatch of business, but when greater safety is required, the'other divisions may be made use of.

And, inl addition to the utility and convenience, as described above, there are other points of value and I convenience.y And in this fourth connection I use an instrument/which nearly resembles keys which are in use, (see fig. 1Q, letter 20,) but I fixv no claim on this key'or any part of this fourth division. This small key, or day-key,`or clerks key, also enters the lock through the opening u, and can operate and throw back and forward a pair of bolts, letter v. And, as this division-is intended for day nse,nnd if the clerks are provided with the small keys, they may operate on this fourth division, but cannot on any other part of the lock; but the proprietor, with his principal key, can'render this smallkey entirely nugatory.

Having thus set forth the principles of my invention, and the manner `of constructing and using the same, and more especially-the parts, improvements, or combinations which I am to claim as inyinvention or discovery, I I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the special construction and arrangements of parts herein specified, as they may be varied without changing the principle or mode of operation; but

What I do claim as my. invention, and desire'to secure by Letters Patent, is Y 1. The peculiar-constructed key, having projections or bits a b c, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and described. s 2. The arrangement of the main bolt, in combination with the plunger m and levers g g, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth. A

3, The form and arrangement of the plunger, ing-combination with the levers y g, acting on the pawls substantially ns described.

4. The arrangement of the sliding plates, which eilec'tually close the several key-holes, as and for the purposes substantially as described.

' JOHN DILLINGHAM.

Witnesses:

DANIEL H. TEAGUE,

s C. N. LIrrL-EFIELD. 

